Author: The Next Tally Team

You know, I walk through this big giant, scary mecca everyday. And I am always taken by the young people I see, and the looks on their faces– so innocent and pure. And depth of their eyes tell the story of a hunger for acceptance, “stardom” and a yearning desire for that “big break”. They come from everywhere. And they are so wide-eyed, searching for purpose. Gosh, was I this way, when I first moved here, 18 years ago? I remember all I had was a pair of Stephon Marbury $8 sneakers, two shirts and a couple pair of jeans. I wasn’t a teen, but I was a vagabond who had lost my way. But then, “God”. Lord, I wish I could take each and every one of these young people and give them a boost; a start in…”whatever”. I do my share of help and support, but I wish I could guide them all. There’s a scripture which says it all though: I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. To them, (and everybody else) I say, You can…and You will…but only “in Christ”. Believe in yourself, but in Christ. Unk

You need only look at the shoulder of a parents shirt, jacket, dress (or any other apparel) to know what happened. If it has stains, you already know a baby has been there. I’ve had enough spit-up on my collar to know whatever you put in that baby, if you shake him up, it’s going to come out on your shirt. So what do you think is going to happen if you do the same thing to an impressionable teen? It’s time for us (long overdue) to go back to raising “Proverbs” children. And get to them now, while they’re truly soaking up EVERYTHING. Or the court system is going to raise him or her FOR YOU. Proverbs 22:6 says it all. Whatever you put in that kid, (or whatever negative vices they see you do, or whatever negative things THEY do and are allowed to get away with) will eventually come up and come out on your shoulder. And God forbid if they run up on a teacher, a cop or some other authority and get “shaken up”. And all the things you put in that child (good or bad) is going to come out! Trust me. As a news man, I’ve sat in enough courtroom hallways where parents are crying their eyes out, because of something that was put in their child, that has now come out and the penal system has taken over. And quite often, it’s not necessarily some bad milk that YOU put in them–but they got into somebody else’s bad milk (that’s why we need to be mindful of who and where our children spend their time). Bottom line:

If you put “good” in them, then “good” will come out– Yes mam, Yes sir, Thank you sir. Put or allow bad in them, and your shoulders will be stained with tears, bad news etc., for a lifetime. ‘Nuff said. Unk